Obesity is a complex condition that is often misunderstood. Research has found that 85 percent of bariatric surgery patients have been obese since childhood. Genetic influences are thought to account for about 33 percent of a person's body weight, but socioeconomic factors and cultural attitudes toward diet and exercise also play an important role.In recent years, the medical community has placed an increased emphasis on providing patients with weight loss help. This is because obesity increases the risk of illness from over 30 medical conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, diabetes, infertility, hypertension, low back pain, and sleep apnea. Morbid obesity contributes to 300,000 excess deaths in the United States each year.
For people in search of weight loss help, reducing the amount of calories consumed while increasing physical activity is the preferred treatment option. Dietary therapy can help patients learn to select nutritious foods and prepare their meals using low-fat cooking techniques. Beginning a regular exercise program assists in the maintenance of weight loss by improving muscle tone and increasing the amount of calories burned each day.
While diet and exercise can be effective in treating obesity, some
people need a more aggressive treatment option in order to lose
weight. For these people, bariatric surgeries such as gastric bypass
and the LAP BAND procedure are valuable forms of weight loss help.
Bariatric surgery helps patients lose weight by limiting food intake
and suppressing appetite. However, a healthy diet and a regular
exercise program are still a required part of follow-up care.
